The final Harry Potter book is out at midnight. I have a confession to make. I've read none of them. I started to watch the first movie and fell asleep about 10 minutes in. I know nothing of the characters and outside of the title and the author's name, I know nothing about what makes this series such a cultural phenomenon.
But I have read many articles by Christians about why to boycott this series. "It's witchcraft in disguise." "We're taking the spiritual realm too lightly." "It's from Satan."
Let's get something straight. It's a novel. And while I am the first to agree that we (meaning Christians) don't acknowledge the spiritual realm enough in our everyday lives, not EVERYTHING out there is from the devil. Sometimes, things that are popular out there in society are neutral or good in and of itself. I know the verse that says that anything that is not for God is against Him. But before you quote that, have another look at what it says and who it's written to. The church generally jumps all over anything that is popular in culture. (but that's another blog altogether)
Imaginations are a great thing. CS Lewis understood that and used it well. So did Jesus in his teaching. They are a part of us that unfortunately we lose when we "grow up". But imaginations are precursors to dreaming and dreaming is a precursor to hoping. Let's take God seriously but ourselves lightly. To think that there is a world bigger than ourselves is quintessential Christianity. Why don't most of us understand heaven? Probably because we've forgotten how to imagine a world beyond what we can see and touch.
JK Rowling isn't writing Scripture. It's just fun escapism. But it puts us in touch with a God given part of ourselves that is unique, exciting and made in the image of God - our imaginations.
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4 comments:
good call. good call. going to see it tonight and I haven't touched a book in my 20 years of existance. lol...
but ya gotta hang out with the kids some way or another. who knows, maybe this movie will lead to a great talk about 'good vs. evil'
Why is it that Christians want to jump all over everything secular? Non-christian musicians make amazing music, the same is true for secular artists, authors, etc. I think that God created everyone in His image, the difference is that Christians acknowledge His gifting.
I do think we need to be careful of stories about spiritual realms or magic, but I don't believe in sheltering our kids from it necessarily. I plan to have the strategy of reading things with my kids and having open conversations about it. This goes for other things too, within reason.
I think in general, Christians need to be engaged in the world, or how else can we be relevant and in touch with what is happening. Besides, how amazing is it that kids and adults will wait until midnight to be one of the first that gets a new book. As a book lover myself, I think that in itself is amazing and praiseworthy.
Ratchet
Even though I have never picked up a "Harry Pooper" book (and have no desire to either), I wholeheartedly agree with everyone in saying that Christians make too big of a deal about Harry Potter and other similar items. Let's not give the devil more credit than he deserves!
However, I'm gonna play devil's advocate for a moment so I can stir the pot a bit.
On the other end of the "Harry Potter is evil" spectrum is the group of Christians who say that any form of media or entertainment is permissible. I have Christian friends who will play bloody and violent video games, who will watch movies filled with cursing and sex scenes, who will read men's health magazines "for the articles", who will listen to music filled with messages encouraging drug use and adultery.
People will say that "it doesn't affect them" or "it's just for fun". However, Scripture teaches that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit and that what we put into our bodies (all of those images and messages) surely affect us. Sure, we would never go out and commit adultery or swear up a storm at someone in person, but somehow we think as Christians it's okay for us to watch this on TV?
Generally speaking, I think we as Christians are too casual with what we entertain ourselves with and that we need to do a far better job of watching what we entertain ourselves with. Jesus said "For even if you look at a woman lustfully (on TV perhaps?), you have already committed adultery in your heart."
While Christians might be freaking out over Harry Pooper and calling him the anti-Christ, I applaud them for having the guts to stand up and warn others not to be distracted by things that might lead us away from the things of Christ.
excellent response kevin- inwardly digested and approved.
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